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Meta-review: Fuse (Xbox 360, Playstation 3)

Insomniac is one of the most heralded developers of the last three generations of consoles. The studio has created iconic franchises like Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and the Resistance series. Now all of these franchises were Sony brand exclusives, which is why when EA announced that Insomniac was going to be releasing a multi-platform game under their banner, it was a bid deal.

Originally announced as a game called “Overstrike“, the game looked to be a fun, cartoonish shooter more in the vein of their Ratchet series than Resistance. However, over the course of the games development, the title had shed its cartoonish paint job for a grittier look, as well as a change in title. Sadly, it does not look like the change in direction has been met with critical success. The title seems to be scoring in the “C-C+” area, which is a real shame because the games co-op action looks frenetic and cool. Much of the criticism comes down to the co-op gameplay not being translated to a single player game experience. In short, unless you have friends to play with, leave this game alone. Perhaps this game will find its audience and Insomniac will be emboldened to continue to work in the multiplatform arena. I would hate for them to have to go back to the well of the same old franchises. I feel like 8 Ratchet games are enough.

Here is one the critics had to say:

The Escapist: Some of Fuse’s flaws, like the grindy boss fights and a storyline that takes itself a little too seriously at times, can harm the experience, but it’s a well built third-person shooter that’s fun to play solo or on a team. (4/5)

Gamespot: Fuse is calibrated for people to play together, designed in such a way as to be merely serviceable for solo players, but solid fun for groups of gung-ho mercs. (7/10)

Polygon: The core of a great third-person shooter is present in Fuse. The team-based insanity offers a unique take on the genre, and Insomniac’s reputation for inventive weapons and creative combat helps too. But Fuse only comes together with three or four players, and even then, the late game combat design and boring-to-fight enemies stand in its way. (6.5/10)

Destructoid: Whether it’s true or not, Fuse does feel every bit like another victim of the heavily focus-tested, leader following, perpetually terrified mainstream game industry. It’s every cloying and desperate element of the retail console market, brought together — fused, if you will — to create a factory standard example of a game that tries to be everything the hypothetical mainstream consumer drools over, and ends up as nothing remarkable. (4/10)